MELBOURNE, March 29 (APP): Australia regained the Cricket World Cup crown on Sunday when they routed their Trans Transman neighbors New Zealand by seven wickets in the day/night final here at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for their overall fifth title.

LAHORE, June 6, (APP): Prime
Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that government is strongly against
drone attacks as the same are against our national sovereignty and counter
productive. Talking to newsmen at
foundation laying ceremony of Aiwan-e-Quaid-i-Azam here on Saturday, he said, “
We are strongly opposed to attacks by unmanned planes as these run counter to
our strategy of segregating peace loving tribal people and militants.”

He said government and military
are pursuing a strategy of separating tribal people and militants, but attacks
by these unmanned flying machines create sympathies for those challenging writ
of the government.

He said, “ We have asked US to
provide technology and possession of drones so that in case of credible
intelligence we can ourselves take action.”

The Prime Minister said the
impression that drone issue was not taken up by Pakistan with US was totally
wrong and misleading as during recent visit of US envoy for Afghanistan and
Pakistan Richard Hallbrooke,when he raised the matter of drone attack, he (Mr
Hallbrooke) said similar views were expressed by Mian Nawaz Sharif during
meeting with him.

To a question about civilian
nuclear technology offers by France and US he said, “We have talked to France
in this regard and US has also made offer. US has already civilian nuclear deal
with India and they think that Pakistan should also be given the facility.”

To another question, he said
“acquisition of peaceful nuclear technology is every country’s right and Iran
also has full right in this regard.”

Regarding NFC Award, he said ,
it has been constituted and soon its meeting would be held adding “Resources
among the provinces under the NFC award would be distributed as per their
satisfaction.”

When asked as to when Swat
operation would be over, he said it was not a conventional war and government
wants its conclusion as soon as possible so that people could go back to their
homes.

To a question about reaction of
India over release of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed on court orders and Indian external
affairs minister’s statement regarding terrorism, he said “It is their view
point.However, there is some lacunae in laws and legislation has to be carried
out to deal more effectively with elements committing crimes in other
countries.It is parliament which has to decide whether or not carry out
legislation in this regard”.